Baltimore Orioles vs Tampa Bay Rays

The Tampa Bay Rays started the second half of the season with a home blowout win over Baltimore, 11-1. The Baltimore offense has struggled over their last three games, all resulting in losses. The Birds have scored just two runs in the three games. The 11 runs by Tampa is certainly an outlier, as the Rays scored a total of one run in the two previous games. The Rays have done a good job winning games they should. Tampa Bay is now 30-20 on the season as a favorite from -110 and up. Baltimore is just 21-29 in their 50 road games this season. Make the play on Tampa Bay.

Last-place Baltimore is getting outscored by 90 runs, the third-worst differential in the AL. The offense is 22nd in runs scored, 23rd in on-base percentage, 15th in slugging, and 15th in steals. Starter Charlie Morton (5.18 ERA) has a 5.97 ERA on the road, where the home teams hit .290 off him. The bullpen ranks 25th with a 4.63 ERA. The Rays needed the All-Star break, ending the first half on a 10-game road trip. Tampa Bay's offense is ninth in runs scored, 12th in slugging, and No. 1 in steals. Starter Taj Bradley is holding batters to a .237 average, so back home field. Play Tampa Bay. 

Tampa Bay ends a six-game road trip. Taj Bradley (4.57 ERA) faced Baltimore two starts ago and got shelled, surrendering seven runs in less than two innings. He's allowed 19 runs (13 earned) in his last four starts (16 innings). The bullpen is 15th in ERA (3.79). Baltimore is on a 20-13 run and plays its sixth consecutive home contest. Dean Kremer has a 2.90 ERA at home, where he's holding visitors to a .214 average. Kremer has a 1.80 ERA against Tampa Bay this season after beating them two starts ago, 5-1. Play Baltimore.

The Tampa Bay Rays are one of those teams that don't spend a lot, but do a great job producing players in their organization. They are just 1.5 games out in the AL East. The Orioles appeared to be a team on the rise, but things are not going as planned. The Orioles are 10 games under .500 at the halfway point of the season. The Birds won a wild one last night in Tampa, 22-8. The Orioles have started to play better baseball, and in the previous 14 games, they are 8-6. The Rays' pitching has taken a beating over the last nine games, as they have allowed an opponent to score eight or more runs in 4 of them. Good situation for the Orioles today. Make the play on Baltimore.